The largest ‘adult festival for LGBT communities and lifestylers’ in Europe has been forced to cancel this year over fears that correct social distancing measures could not be adhered to amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
You think that’d just go without saying at this point though, right?
The Aurora Festival was to be held in a secret location in Worcestershire this weekend – between Thursday and Sunday – with hundreds registered to attend, but the team behind the festival said in a statement that they were not prepared to offer a “poor replica” of the event this year.
Confirming the cancellation of the festival via its website and Facebook page, Aurora Festival said: “It is with great regret that we have made the decision to cancel Aurora Festival 2020.”
“This is a decision that has been discussed and agreed by the Aurora committee, after a lot of thought and deliberation, looking at the practicalities and considering the safeguarding of all our wonderful customers.”
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“The impact of COVID-19 has already affected ticket sales.”
“There is also the potential for vendors and suppliers to withdraw at any time, due to illness or self-isolation, leaving us with a space to fill at short notice or more likely, not at all.”
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“We pride ourselves on providing the best, independent, Lifestyle Festival in the UK, giving our customers an experience to remember. We are not prepared to offer you all, an experience that is a poor replica that does not reflect the true essence and standards of Aurora.”
“We will use this time to look after ourselves and each other and see where this virus takes us.”
This year would’ve been the seventh annual Aurora Festival held in the UK.
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Tickets are reportedly sold at the cost of £170 for a couple and attendees are usually only told the exact location just 48-hours in advance in order to keep it under wraps.
Last year, according to the Mirror Online, the three-day event boasted large sex hammocks and Wild West themed nights.
The Aurora Festival closed out the statement vowing to return “bigger, fresher and virus free” in 2021.
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
30th June 2020 
